Harsh lessons in life

On a similar theme, further Home Office research has considered whether students are more or less likely than average to be victims of crime.

The answer - like so much else in this field - is "it depends". If students are living in private rented accommodation, the answer is yes; if they are living in university or college residences, then it is no.

The researchers - Rosemary Barberet, Bonnie Fisher, Graham Farrell and Helen Taylor - found that, of a sample of 315 students in the east Midlands, one in three had been a victim of crime in the previous year. More than 70% of those who had suffered a crime had experienced theft or burglary.

Yet, whereas 12% of students who lived in private accommodation had been a victim of burglary, only 5% of those living in university accommodation had suffered such a crime.

The survey also found that 14% of male students had been victims of violent crime in the previous year, compared with 4% of female students. The equivalent figures for burglary were 14% and 7%. As well as this gender difference, drug use was strongly linked to the chances of a student being a crime victim: 17% of students who had used drugs in the previous month had experienced violence in the previous year, compared with 6% of those who had not used drugs.

A similar pattern emerged in relation to burglary, with just over 18% of students who had used drugs in the previous month reporting a burglary, as opposed to almost 8% of those who had not.

The largest category of goods stolen from students was, not surprisingly, mobile phones (18%), followed by cash (15%), stereo equipment, computers and bicycles (10% each), and CDs/videos/DVDs and clothes (8% each).

Students were asked to evaluate the problems in their neighbourhood. More than two-thirds of those living in university or college accommodation saw burglary, drunkenness or rowdy behaviour as the main problems.

In private accommodation, more than 60% came up with the same list but, in addition, they identified as major issues mobile-phone theft, robbery and stealing from vehicles.

Security measures taken by students included leaving lights on at night while they were away from their residences (64%), avoiding going out after dark altogether (23%) and not leaving drinks unattended in public (68%). Reassuringly, perhaps, the researchers found that fewer than 1% routinely carried any sort of weapon.